What an honor and blessing is was to be asked to photograph my first same-sex wedding just a few weeks after the Ninth Circuit lifted its stay on the district court's ruling, enabling Governor Jerry Brown to order same-sex marriages to resume on June 28th, 2013.

When Robert asked me to photograph his "Big Day" with Ivan, I immediately said "YES!!" I was absolutely thrilled.

Later that day, I went for a run and thought about how I would go about capturing images for this upcoming wedding. I wanted to give the photographs a timeless, high class, elegant, crisp, light, loving and contemporary feel to them. Think Chanel. Prada. Louis Vuitton. GQ. Vogue. Photographs fit to be published in a magazine. Simple lines. Clean form. Cool tones. Desaturated and subdued hues. California casual with an East Coast Hamptons flair, timelessness and grace. I wanted to include detail shots as well as very candid, intimate and fun photographs.

(Above: A beautiful egg-shell-white rose. The perfect color.A red rose would have taken away from the white shirts.Great choice Robert.) (Above: I love how Erica is laughing in the background.)

(Above: This photo reminds me of the Hamptons.)

(Above: Mark delivering an amazing ceremony.)Mark: "We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Ivan and Robert and to celebrate the love they share with each other and with their children, Alex and Erica. Let's open by joining hands in a circle around Ivan and Robert as I lead us in prayer."

(Above: As you can see, I try to photograph from as many angles as I possibly can. Low. High. On the side. Above. Below. Through people. Behind people. Up close. Far away. Always moving, yet all in a quiet, unassuming and stealth manner.Like a sniper getting his shot. A photograph that is. LOL!Just like a fly on the wall.)

(Above: Pure joy and laughter. And radiant smiles full of happiness.)

(Above: Liv and Patti.)

(Above: Patti and Liv.)

(Above: I'd love to enter this photo in a "caption contest."How would YOU caption this photo?)

(Above: Alex giving his beautiful speech.)

(Above: Erica is looking at her daddywith so much love in her eyes and love in her heart.)

(Above: Patti Paul welling up with emotion and shedding a few tear drops of happiness.)

(Above: An East Coast look, but soooo very California with the blue lifeguard tower.I love how the leading lines of the ocean, the line of the hillside, the horizon line, the line of the shore, all converge with the wedding party just off center.)

(Above: I love how the wind gently blows Erica's hair like in a glamour model photo shoot.)

(Above: Encouraging. Caring. Tender. Nurturing. Loving.)

(Above: Wow, a Levis ad commercial!!)

(Above: Step-daddy giving Erica a loving kiss.)

The Exchange of Rings:Mark: "These rings have no beginning and no end. They set forth the eternal nature of real love. They will represent the love and trust that Ivan and Robert promise to each other this day."

(Above: The Pronouncement:Mark: "Now that Robert and Ivan have exchanged vows and rings, before God and the gathered witnesses, by virtue of the authority entrusted to me, and in agreement with the laws of the State of California, I now pronounce you not only as wedded spouses for life, but as a quartet.. a family of four! May joy be with you and your children from this day forward. You may kiss!")

(Above: I love how Erica is doing a modeling pose with her leg! Work it!!)

(Above: Wow. Larry!! Those abs are amazing!!)

(Above: Crazy. Sexy. Cool.)

(Above: Everyone laughing their heads off!!)

(Above: I love this photo. Out of a movie!!Que: Chariots of Fire.)

(Above: Nice throw.)

(Above: Nice catch Richard.)

(Above: Brother and sister.)Quote of the day: "I'm 14. I've taken health!!"

(Above: The Sunset Restaurant, Malibu.It's located just a few yards from the beach.And it's located on the "run" part of the Malibu Triathlon.)

(Above: Richard giving a "thumbs up."

(Above: Ivan checking Alex's iPhone photos from the wedding.)

(Above: Erica proudly showing Richard and Mark her Instagram photos.)

(Above: Forever daddy's little girl.)

(Above: Mark signing the marriage license.)

(Above: Robert giving Larry and Theresa a beautifully framed photo.)

(Above: Beautiful Liv overwhelmed with emotion and wiping a tear from her eye.)

Mark: Robert and Ivan want to put at the very beginning of the ceremony God's description in 1st Corinthian Verse 13 of what love is really about."If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become no more than blaring brass, or a crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of fortelling the future, and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge, but [even] the very secretes of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess...but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing.

This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience--it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress, not does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.

Love has good manners, and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people.

On the contrary, it shares the joy of those who live by the truth.

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love never fails...In this life we have three lasting qualities--faith, hope and love.